E-Mail This Article to a Friend THE TRIP

Boasting neither talent nor originality, Miles Swain’s movie, which screened at last year’s Boston Gay & Lesbian Film Fest, is more of a bad trip. Alan (Larry Sullivan), a "straight" Republican writing a book on "homosexuality through the ages," and Tommy (Steve Braun), the gay activist he’s interviewing for research, are smoking some dope as the film begins, in the Watergate era of 1973. This opens Alan’s mind to his own gay inclinations, but it also leads the film into a relentless litany of clichés, cutesy comedy, and treacly melodrama. In a moment of pique, Alan writes a homophobic screed that he thinks is forgotten, only to have it resurface years later, after he and Tommy have settled into a squirmily perfect relationship. Tommy flees as craven, status-seeking Alan cozies up with a sugar daddy, the years fly by (you can tell by the changing hairstyles and obvious archival footage), and The Trip, far from challenging conventions, wallows in them, indulging in stereotypes of Republicans, the elderly, women, and, of course, gays, including a flaming queen played by reigning icon Alexis Arquette. (95 minutes)